The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-03
were made between January and June,


but most Of them remained uncollected.
The defense then drew from the witnessin
spite of the efforts Of the government coun-
sci to prevent it, the statement that W. ii.
Chattield, one of the directors OF the bank,
was one in whose name discounts APP
peared rs late as June 49, The witness
made comical efforts to withdraw his
hasty answer by clapping his hands to his
mouth, but the story was beyond recall.
w. A. Lucius, general bookkeeper, tes-
tilted TO q letter OF advice from q party
who had no funds in the bank. Harper
took that letter and the draft, and it next
appeared in Ilarper's accounts with bis
Endorsement
The cross-examination OF Mr.. Lucius
was concluded without producing any
thing interesting.
Mr.. Quinlan, Of the Chemical bank,
New York, was recalled to testify about
whether the draft upon his bank for S50,-
600, mentioned in his testimony yester-
day, had gone TO Harpers individual nc
count. He said that he had received
telegram that would enable him TO answer
but the evidence in that form was ruled
nadmissible.
Paul Z. Ashbrook, q smooth-faced boy
ish-loolSing witness, was the next. Mr..
Harper saluted him with a nod and smile
as he took his place. Mr.. Ashbrook re-
| turned the salutation with unaffected dig
| nifty. The reason for these greetings be-
came apparent when the witness
stated that he was the individ-
ual bookkccper of the Fidelity
national bank, and had charge OF accounts
| from A 10 j, which OF course included Mr..
| llarpcr's. II was concerning this that he
was called TO testify. lie said Harper's
account was frequently oyerdmwn At
one time in May il was overdrawn SIG, 900.
| lie indicated ovcr-draits at the time they
were made in llarper's account, but after
they were made account OF Harper & Co.
| Witness read the fluctuations OF iarper's
and other accounts in which he was inter
ested from January to June. Nearly all
were ovcrdrawn at some time. After the
failure witness had marked the over-drafts
CDR" in rcd ink. Usually over-dais ran
for short time, but Mr.. Harper had told
| him these were 10 run for some time. Wit
ness was not sure that Harper had in
structed him TO omit the Or" on these
over-drafts
G. J. Kershaw, the Chicago broker, was
recalled and identified number OF letters
of advice signed by Hopkins assistant
cashier of the Fidelity bank; also num-
Der of kilograms signed Fidelity bank,
relating 10 transfers Of money by the FL
deity to the American Exchange national
bank, Of Chicago.
When the district attorney called Briggs
Swift, there was q murmur of expectation,
for this is the name OF the venerable prcsi-
dent OF the late Fidelity bank. A tall,
straight man, with white hair and beard,
both scanty, walked with almost youthful
step 10 the witness stand. This was
Briggs Swift, man who has lived
more than his tl.rcc-score and ten
years, and who has spent all OF his
business life in Cincinnati, with never so
much rs q stain upon his business intcg-
rity until the merciless hand Of tho gov
ernment placed an indictment upon It's
records against him, along with Harper
and other officers Of the bank. There are
few business men in Cincinnati who could
conceive OF Briggs Swift doing dishonor-
able act, and there was much curiosity as
10 how he would talk when called ~ wit
ness. Almost the first question produced
laughter. lie was asked il he knew his
bank was engaged in n wheat deal.
al did not, was his blunt answer.
lie then went on 30 say: lasked
| tltTpfI last ~ WIZ w
wheat deal, and Harper said that he had
not a dollar in ii. Later sent him let
ter asking the same question, and he re-
piled by saying he had no interest what
ever in the matter, and II any man said he
had he was liar. Aftcrward ! often
spoke TO him about IL, and he
always contadiCtcd tho rumon that
he was in the deal. When the
public began 10 suspect the Fidelity bank
and wanted 10 restore confidence. | went
TO the bank with Mr.. Richard Smith, Of the
Gazette, who has known me for years, and
together We catechiscd Harper the sub
ject. We put him on the stand and lac
denied IL. Then Mr.. Smith, upon my as
surance and upon liarpef's express state.
ment, wrote an editorial denying that the
Fidelity bank was mixed up in the affair.
This was but few days before the failure"
During his examination Mr.. Swift said
that when he-was in the city he spent two
or three hours each day ut the bank, but
that hc was away from the city part OF
the summer and winter, and at those times
MIR. Harper attended 20 his duties. Con-
tinuing, he said that he had never exam.
ined the books Of the discount book.
keeper, nor had he ever for the benefit OF
the bank examined things critically 10 sec
how the business was being carried on, al.
though he had opportunity 10 examine
into all thing connected with the bank
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